Chapter 1

1

The weekend was approaching when my two older brothers left our blind grandfather stranded at the train station.

Grandpa panicked when he couldn't find them. He suffered a sudden heart attack and died before I could even reach him for a final goodbye.

At the same time, my social media feed was blowing up with news of my brothers getting into a fistfight over a girl.

They had abandoned our helpless grandfather just to fight over who would get to take our childhood friend on a weekend trip.

Caleb, the eldest, roared at me when his plans fell through.

"It is all your fault for calling me! If you hadn't nagged me, I would be the one making a wish on the Ferris wheel with Misty right now!"

Tristan, the second brother, gave me a cold warning.

"Stop messaging me for no reason. Do not dare ruin my dates with Misty again."

After I finished Grandpa's funeral arrangements, I prepared to leave this place forever.

One day, they would search the entire world for me, begging for my forgiveness.

But for now, I just wanted to go home and finish my packing.

I picked a lucky day for Grandpa's burial and booked a one-way flight before heading back to the house.

Before I even stepped through the door, I heard a familiar, giggling voice.

"This strawberry cake is so good. Caleb, do you want a bite?"

I opened the door to see Misty feeding a piece of cake to my oldest brother.

My two biological brothers were hovering around her, their eyes full of adoration.

Once, that kind of love had been reserved for me.

Our parents died when I was ten, leaving me with Grandpa and my twin brothers, who were seven years older than me. They treated me like a precious treasure until Misty moved in next door.

Misty was cute and charming, and my brothers fell for her act immediately. Slowly, she framed me for one thing after another until they grew to despise me.

Only my blind grandfather would comfort me, telling me that once I grew strong enough, their opinions wouldn't matter anymore.

But I had only just graduated from college. I hadn't even had the chance to take care of him before he passed away.

He probably never imagined that the grandsons he raised would dump him at a station like a piece of trash just for a girl.

I suddenly remembered that today was Misty's birthday.

It was my birthday, too.

Tristan looked up and scowled the moment he saw me.

"What are you doing back here? You knew it was Misty's birthday, yet you are late!"

Misty grabbed Tristan's hand and pouted playfully.

"Oh, don't fight on my birthday!"

She scooped up a piece of cake and walked toward me with a lively expression, though I saw the triumph in her eyes.

"Lyra, I don't blame you for being late. Just take a bite of this cake and I will forgive you!"

I stared at the cake, my fists clenched at my sides.

I have a severe strawberry and cream allergy.

Just one bite would send me into anaphylactic shock.

Caleb and Tristan saw me hesitate and stepped closer, their gazes heavy and judgmental.

"What kind of trick are you trying to play now?"

"Is your mouth made of gold? Do we have to personally force-feed you?"

I looked them dead in the eye, my voice flat.

"I don't dare eat it. I am afraid if I get poisoned, there won't be anyone left to take me to the hospital."

"By the time you notice, I'll be dead on the floor."

Caleb exploded in rage.

"Lyra Miller! Who do you think you are that we would bother poisoning you?"

Tristan snorted with disgust.

"You are so disrespectful. Do you even care that we are your brothers?"

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

Now they remembered they were my brothers when they wanted to boss me around.

But what about Grandpa? Did they remember him?

"You don't deserve to be called my brothers!"

"You abandoned Grandpa at the train station, and he had a massive heart attack!"

"And what are you doing now? You are celebrating a birthday with someone who isn't even family!"

A flash of panic crossed Caleb's face.

"We had an emergency and had to leave! Besides, the station was crowded. He has a tongue; he could have asked for help."

He grew more defensive as he spoke.

"Are you really going to disown your own brothers over a small mistake like that?"

Misty's eyes filled with tears.

"Please don't fight because of me."

"It's my fault for begging the boys to spend the day with me. Lyra, please don't blame them."

"If it's like this, I'll just leave."

She dropped the cake, covered her face, and ran out the door.

Caleb and Tristan panicked instantly and chased after her.

"Are you happy now, Lyra? You ruined her day!"

The front door slammed shut with a deafening bang.

The room fell into a suffocating silence.

I lost all my strength and collapsed onto the floor.

It didn't matter anymore.

In six days, after Grandpa was buried, I would leave this place.

From then on, our paths would never cross again.